iFiftyFiftyUpdated September 7, 2026 · Written by the 2Pens Media team, the studio behind iFiftyFifty and Coinnect. We list our own apps first and say so.
You can earn gift cards playing games two ways: grind points in an advertiser's game, or play something you like for free and win a card outright. This list covers both, ranked by how much you get for your time. Every app here is free to use.
- iFiftyFifty — free match-3 tournaments with gift-card prizes plus a $100 monthly drawing
- Coinnect — skill match-3 cash tournaments every 4 hours, 100% free, prizes paid as gift cards
- Mistplay — the best-known play-to-earn loyalty app; Android-first
The 10 best apps to win gift cards playing games
1iFiftyFifty Our app
iFiftyFifty is a free match-3 puzzle game with timed tournaments. Top-ranking players in each tournament win digital gift cards from major retailers, typically $5 to $50 each, delivered as a code. Every qualifying tournament also earns entries into the $100 Monthly Grand Prize drawing, paid by PayPal.
The daily spin wheel is a bonus mechanic: it hands out coins, extra plays and bonus entries rather than prizes directly, so nobody has to buy spins to compete. Optional purchases exist but never change your odds, and there is a free email entry method spelled out in the Official Rules.
Best for: players who want a real game (not a task list) and a shot at a gift card every tournament cycle, with zero spending.
2Coinnect Our app
Coinnect, our sister app, runs skill-based match-3 tournaments around the clock. There are no deposits and no coin packs: the prize pool is funded entirely by ads, and winners are paid with digital gift cards. Tournaments are short, so a strong player can place several times a day.
Because it is a skill contest rather than a sweepstakes, winners are decided purely by score. Read how it works at coinnectapp.net.
Best for: competitive match-3 players who would rather win by score than by luck.
3Mistplay
Mistplay pays you "units" for time spent in partner games you install through its app, and units convert into gift cards. It is legitimate and widely reviewed, but the earning rate is slow: most users report a few dollars per week, and rewards drop as you level through a game.
Our sister site's Mistplay review covers the unit math in detail.
Best for: Android users who already play a lot of free-to-play games and want something back for it.
4Swagbucks (Swagbucks Play)
Swagbucks has been paying out since 2008. Its Play tab lists mobile games with milestone rewards (reach level X, earn Y SB), alongside surveys, shopping cashback and offers. Points redeem for dozens of gift cards or PayPal cash.
The catch: the biggest game rewards usually require deep progression, and many offers are only worth it if you would have played anyway.
Best for: people who want one account that covers games, surveys and shopping rewards together.
5InboxDollars
InboxDollars mixes a games catalogue with surveys, email offers and cashback. It shows earnings in dollars rather than points, which makes the value easier to judge. A minimum balance applies before you can cash out, so expect to combine several activities to get there.
Best for: survey takers who want games as a side earner.
6Rewarded Play
Rewarded Play works like Mistplay: install featured games, play, collect points, redeem for gift cards. Points accrue fastest in the first days with a new game, so the app rewards trying many titles rather than mastering one.
Best for: Android users who enjoy sampling new games.
7Cash Giraffe
Cash Giraffe tracks time in partner games and pays in gems. Payout minimums are low, which is why it gets recommended so often, but the per-hour value is modest. See the Cash Giraffe review for real cash-out reports.
Best for: Android players who want small, frequent cash-outs.
8JustPlay
JustPlay pays coins for time in its featured games and lets you cash out every few hours, which keeps motivation high. Amounts per cash-out are small, but it is one of the few apps that lets you route winnings to a charity instead of yourself.
Best for: players who like seeing a payout land the same day.
9Freecash
Freecash is an offer wall: game installs and progression milestones sit next to surveys and sign-up offers. The higher-paying game offers demand many hours of play, so read the milestone list before you start.
Best for: people comfortable grinding specific in-game goals for a fixed reward.
10Fetch (Fetch Play)
Fetch is best known for scanning receipts, but its Play section pays points for progress in partner games. Points redeem for a large gift-card catalogue. Treat games as a supplement to receipts, not the main event.
Best for: people who already use Fetch and want a little extra.
How these apps pay, side by side
| App | Model | How it pays | Platforms | Deposit needed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iFiftyFifty | Free tournaments + monthly drawing | Gift cards $5–$50; $100 monthly via PayPal | iOS, Android | No |
| Coinnect | Free skill tournaments | Gift cards $2–$5 per win | iOS, Android | No |
| Mistplay | Play-to-earn loyalty points | Gift cards | Android | No |
| Swagbucks Play | Rewards points | Gift cards or PayPal | iOS, Android, web | No |
| InboxDollars | Rewards (dollar balance) | Gift cards, PayPal, check | iOS, Android, web | No |
| Rewarded Play | Play-to-earn points | Gift cards | Android | No |
| Cash Giraffe | Play-to-earn gems | Gift cards or PayPal | Android | No |
| JustPlay | Play-to-earn coins | PayPal, gift cards, charity | Android (iOS limited) | No |
| Freecash | Offer wall | Gift cards, PayPal, crypto | iOS, Android, web | No |
| Fetch Play | Rewards points | Gift cards | iOS, Android | No |
Two ways to win gift cards playing games
Every app on this page fits one of two models. Earning apps (Mistplay, Swagbucks, InboxDollars, Rewarded Play, Cash Giraffe, JustPlay, Freecash, Fetch) pay a small, predictable amount for time or milestones in advertiser games. The money is real but slow, typically the equivalent of a dollar or two an hour, and you play what the advertisers choose.
Prize apps (iFiftyFifty, Coinnect) flip it: you play a real game for free, and gift cards go to the top scorers or to drawn winners. Nothing is guaranteed, but a single win is worth more than a week of grinding, and you never have to leave the game you like.How to tell a legit gift-card game from a time-waster
- Published rules. A real prize app tells you the sponsor, the prize, the odds and the free entry method. iFiftyFifty's are here.
- Specific prizes. "$5–$50 gift cards, one $100 winner a month" beats "win up to $10,000".
- No pay-to-win. If buying coins improves your odds, it is not a sweepstakes; walk away.
- Payout reports. Read recent store reviews for people describing an actual gift card arriving.
- Reasonable minimums. Earning apps with a high cash-out floor are counting on you quitting first.
Our guide to spotting legit real-money game apps goes deeper on each point.
Which gift card should you take?
Prepaid Visa-style cards are the closest thing to cash and work almost anywhere. Amazon is the fastest to redeem digitally. Walmart and Target cards effectively become grocery money, which is how many regular players treat winnings. Whatever you choose, redeem digital codes promptly and only check balances on the issuer's own site.
Frequently asked questions
Can you really win gift cards by playing games?
Yes. Rewards apps such as Mistplay and Swagbucks pay small amounts for time in partner games, and prize apps such as iFiftyFifty award gift cards to tournament winners and drawing winners. The difference is certainty versus size: earning apps pay a little every time, prize apps pay more but only to winners.
Which app pays gift cards fastest?
Prize apps deliver a gift-card code within a day or two of a tournament ending, with no balance threshold. Earning apps require you to reach a minimum balance first, which usually takes days or weeks of play.
Do I have to spend money to win gift cards on iFiftyFifty?
No. iFiftyFifty is free to play and no purchase is necessary to enter or win. Optional purchases never improve your odds, and there is a free email entry method described in the Official Rules.
Are these apps available on iPhone?
iFiftyFifty, Coinnect, Swagbucks, InboxDollars, Freecash and Fetch run on iOS and Android. Mistplay, Rewarded Play and Cash Giraffe are Android-first; check your region's App Store for availability.
Play match-3, spin daily, win gift cards
iFiftyFifty is free on iPhone, iPad and Android. Tournament prizes are digital gift cards, and every qualifying game enters you in the $100 monthly drawing. No purchase necessary.
Free on iPhone, iPad & Android · Rated 4.5★ (656 App Store ratings) · No purchase necessary · Official Rules